Vince Young-to-Philadelphia report reverberates in San Antonio

Media outlets continue to report that former University of Texas quarterback Vince Young is headed to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting on its website that Young, released Thursday by the Tennessee Titans, will join the Eagles on Saturday at Bethlehem, Pa.

Outlets are reporting that Young will sign a one-year contract and will battle for the backup job to Eagles starter Michael Vick, though the Eagles have yet to make the announcement.

Young’s father in law said in a telephone interview Friday morning that he is not surprised at the reports.

“I think that’s probably where he wants to go,” said former major league baseball player Cliff Johnson, who lives in Converse. “I think he likes Andy Reid’s offense and the offensive coordinator (Marty Mornhinweg). Obviously, he’s going to have to check his ego at the door because Vick is clearly the starter.”

Johnson said he talked to Young a couple of weeks ago. Johnson visited Vince and Vince’s wife, Candice, at their home in Houston.

“I spent the night with him and my daughter a few weeks ago,” said Johnson, a Wheatley graduate. “I woke up before he left to go practice and we had a pretty good talk. I had him squeeze my hand. I had him assure me his (previously injured) thumb was 100 percent.

“We sat down and I shared some things with him. I told him he’s going to have to re-invent himself and gain the confidence of the team that he’s going to. He was in accordance with everything I said.”

Johnson said the two also discussed what happened with the Titans. Young, who led the Longhorns to the 2005 BCS championship, spent the past five years in Tennessee.

He was the Titans’ No. 1 draft pick in 2006, the third choice overall. But after falling out of favor with Titans coaches and management the past few seasons, he was released earlier this week.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, now a consultant with the team, said at the Alamodome Friday afternoon that he doesn’t know Young.

Hill also said he doesn’t know the story behind Young’s problems. But he said that, with the Eagles, Young will have a clean slate.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Hill said. “The biggest thing is, you’re going to have two dynamic quarterbacks. (Young) knows what he’s getting into (as the projected backup). I think Vick will probably be very, very supportive of him. Just as he got support from Donovan (McNabb) when he joined that team.”

Hill said Young can bounce back.

“The important thing is, it’s just a new chapter in his career and he has an opportunity to write the next page the way he wants to write it,” Hill said. “I hope he doesn’t do it twice a year (against the Cowboys), but I hope he goes on and has a very successful career.”

Young had his ups and downs with the Titans. He made the Pro Bowl twice. But he clashed with former Titans coach Jeff Fisher. Johnson said Young will face some scrutiny with his new team.

“I’m just hopeful what has happened in the past is a good learning tool for him,” Johnson said. “Because, like I told him, it’s not always about you. Because that (coach) has other guys in the room to be concerned about.

“Like I said, I just gave him some pearls of wisdom about growing up and accepting things better and being more responsible, because he’s going to be looked upon in that light.”